Eddie Kingston & Claudio Castagnoli have had an issue brewing for 15 years, and it all comes down to the matter of respect. Kingston doesn’t respect how Castagnoli left the indies for WWE, and left everyone to clean up his messes while looking down on his former peers.
Meanwhile, Castagnoli doesn’t respect Kingston in any way, feeling his lack of success in professional wrestling was entirely his own doing.
Tonight, both men walk in as champions – Castagnoli the ROH World Champion and Kingston the NJPW Strong Openweight Championship, and only one man will walk away with gold still around their waist after a double title match.
Eddie Kingston & Claudio Castagnoli Are Dressed To Walk The Kings Road
Kingston would be laser focused as the crowd chanted his name. He only had eyes for Claudio, and they would start the match by trading heavy shots.
Kingston would be thrown to the floor, but Claudio followed and was driven into the barricade. Claudio would come back with a short arm lariat, before a stiff elbow strike – fitting with his tights resembling those of Mitsuharu Misawa tonight.
Kingston wearing the colours of Toshiaki Kawada would try for a single leg takedown in the ring, and was dropped with a Doctor Bomb after being caught.
Claudio was sent to the ramp after a suplex, before blocking a Spinning Backfist – and hitting a backdrop onto the ramp. As Kingston tried to get to his feet, Claudio would jump and stomp on the hands.
Back in the ring, Claudio would go to the middle rope, and hit the diving stomp to the arm. Kingston was being picked apart with clinical precision, and took a series of elbow smashes to the back of the neck. Claudio would try for a brainbuster, but Kingston would hold his ground – and hit a suplex of his own.
Kingston would fail to find his feet, and threw chops from his knees before a sliding lariat got Claudio a two count. Claudio applied a Head & Arm Choke, before Kingston fought to his feet and was beaten into the corner with some uppercuts before a TKO for the two count.
Kingston Earns The Respect That Has Been Years In The Making
Kingston would finally show some life, hitting a series of backdrop drivers. Claudio would be put in the corner for the Machine Gun Chops, and kept walking forward before a straight right to the jaw. Northern Lights Bomb from Kingston would be blocked, before chop was countered into a headbutt and lariat from Claudio.
Hammer & Anvil Elbows would soften up Kingston, but the Ricola Bomb was blocked into a Hurricanrana. Kingston would get a two count before being hit with a Running Uppercut.
Ricola Bomb would finally land, but even with Claudio’s finishing move – Kingston did not stay down. A flurry of spinning backfists would set up the Northern Lights Bomb – but Claudio would not stay down.
Kingston would set up a powerbomb, dropping Claudio – and winning the ROH World Championship three seconds later. Both men gave their all in this match, and now – Kingston gets the hold of what is still one of the highest honours in professional wrestling. Claudio offered a handshake, and Kingston accepted before being handed the belt. Respect has been earned.
Who can take this belt from Eddie Kingston? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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